THE Masters and Junior Road National Championships were held in Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley between September 21 and 24, and members of the Alpine Cycling Club performed exceptionally well against the best in the country. These championships bring together the nation’s top amateur road racers (male and female) to compete for the coveted title of Australian champion in their age category. With the title comes the right to wear the green-and-gold jersey for the next 12 months. Three disciplines are raced, each with its own national title: the individual time trial, the road race, and the criterium. Some notable Alpine Cycling Club performances included: - Lachlan Stewart (junior under 15 men’s category) won a medal in each of the three disciplines he competed in (first in the road race, second in individual time trial, third in criterium). - Christophe Baudry rode a brilliant tactical race to win the Masters Men’s (45-50yrs) Road Race in a solo breakaway. - Wayne Hildred was defending champion in his Masters (8) road race category, and did the club proud this year finishing on the podium in third place this year. James Yorston, club road coordinator social and racing, said it was brilliant for the club to be represented so well at a national championship. “For junior riders a strong showing in these national championships brings not only a coveted Australian Champions jersey, but builds a rider's profile and positions them to be signed up in future by national and international professional cycling teams,” he said. “Alpine Cycling Club was very well represented in both the junior and masters categories this year. The club had members racing in over a dozen events. “Developing junior riders is a core part of the club's vision and it is also a wonderful opportunity for juniors and masters alike to be racing at the same event.” The club is hard at work making preparations for their main event of the year, the Tour of Bright, held on the first weekend of December. The Alpine Cycling Club also hosts a summer road series, with club races held every two to three weeks, with handicap races, hill climbs, criteriums, and individual and team time trials.
